Gareth Bale and Clint Dempsey gave Spurs a half-time lead before a determined Saints outfit struck back courtesy of Jay Rodriguez in the second half but the damage had already been done.

Andre Villas-Boasâ€™ had looked the goods at times last week in their eventual 4-2 loss to Chelsea and it was an impressive start to todayâ€™s fixture with Bale heading home with vigour from Tom Huddlestoneâ€™s floated cross in the 15th minute.

Tottenham grabbed a second six minutes prior to the break when Dempsey scuffed home from close range after Jose Fonte had cleared Jermain Defoeâ€™s effort off the line.

Southampton gave themselves a chance in the 66th minute when Rodriguez hammered home with a follow-up after Fonteâ€™s flick from Danny Foxâ€™s corner was saved by Brad Friedel.

Rodriguez almost equalised for the home side three minutes after his goal with a half-volley that was kept out before Spurs held on for dear life with Southampton producing a number of late chances.

In the end though, Tottenham got the points to move to fourth as Southamptonâ€™s mediocre beginning to the season continued as they sit second bottom after nine outings.